At some point, most of us will have a drain that becomes clogged. Hair, grease, oil, and food can all contributed to a clogged drain. Fortunately, in most instances, you can clear the clog yourself without the assistance of a professional. Below are a few tips on how to unclog a drain:

Plunger
1. Remove the strainer or stopper from the drain.
2. Clean it to make sure that it was not a dirty strainer clogging the drain.
3. To unclog a drain using a plunger, your first need a quality plunger that you can purchase at any Hardware store.
4. Fill the sink with enough water so that when you place the head of the plunger over the drain it is submerged in the water.
5. Place the head of the plunger over the drain so it is completely covering the hole.
6. Manually plunge the sink quickly and with great force. The goal is to create enough water pressure to push the clog through. You should plunge repeatedly. Clogs that have not hardened and are not far into the system can usually be cleared using a plunger.

Snake
1. A plumbing snake is a long flexible cable with an auger head on one end. Feed the snake through the drain with the snake head going into the drain first. Keep repositioning the grip within a couple of inches of the entry way to the pipe as you feed the snake into the drain. Rotate the snake clockwise as you slide it through the pipe.
2. Keep feeding the snake through the pipe until you hit the clog.
3. Once you have reached the clog, reposition the snake head. Depending on the size and toughness of the obstruction, you may have to grab at the clog and pull on it to break it up. Rotate the head of the snake until you can feel it grasp on to the clog. Once you have a good hold of the clog, withdraw the snake out of the drain bringing the clump of matter with you.

If the drain clog is not that serious, you can often use a mixture of half a cup baking soda followed by half a cup of vinegar down the drain. It will bubble up and start to break up the clog. You should let it sit over night before running hot water through the pipes. There are also chemical drain cleaners that you can use to break up the clog. It is important to follow the directions because these chemical drain cleaners are corrosive and if they sit too long in the pipes they could cause damage. Many plumbing services now recommend environmentally-friendly drain cleaners as they are biodegradable and safe for drains.

If the above tips do not work and you are confident about working with pipes, you can try removing the drain pipe under the sink to see if you can reach the clog. You will need a wrench and a bucket to collect any water that runs out. Place a bucket under the pipe to catch any water comes out. If the clog is in the drain pipe, you can use a bent metal coat hanger to loosen the clog. Run hot water through the pipe to clear out the remaining pieces once you have removed the clog. When reattaching the pipe, make sure the connection is tight and secure to avoid leaks. It is important to be aware that the plumbing system is delicate, so if you are concerned about causing more damage you should call a local plumber.

About the author of this article:

Looking for a local plumber to fix your plumbing problems? Then contact the plumbing experts at Mr.Rooter, offering Drains Winnipeg to Drains Canada services as well as plumbing services all across Canada.

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